Bowling-pin-setting device.



J. F. CUMMING.

BOWLING PIN SETTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6,1918.

Patented J an. 14, 1919.

JOHN F. CUMMING, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

BOWLING-PIN-SETTDN'G DEVI CE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J an. 14, 1919.

Application filed June 6, 1918. Serial no. 235,453.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it lmown that I, JOHN F. 'OUMMING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the count of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, ave invented a new and useful Bowling-Pin-Setting Device, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for removing bowling pins from the alley when they have been struck without entirely losing control of them andfor then resetting them in such a simple manner that an attendant does not have to be located at each alley.

The principal objects of the invention are to provlde a practical means for accomplishing the above mentioned purposes to provi emeans for holding the pins in proper position on the alley fioorof such a nature that as soon "as they are struck and tilted they will be detached from it; to provide means whereby when this occurs they will I be raised above the alley and out of the way ofthe other pins; and to provide an improved device for resetting them from the position to which they are brought when raised, as-stated above. The invention also involves improvements in the alley floor itself and in the bowling-pin.

Reference is to be had to the accompanyin drawings, in whichigure 1 is an elevation of a portion of a device constructed in accordance with this invention, showindg a single pin in position on the alley an showing the setting frame in position above, also illustratin in dotted lines the position of the pin w en detached from the alley and the position of the setting frame when operating; 1 Fig. 2's a plan ofthe setting device looking down from the line 22 in Fig. 1, and ig. 3 is an'enlarged sectional view of the top of the bowling-pin. Although the alley is not illustrated herein in detail, it is to be understood that its floor 10 is provided with the usual ten spots or locations for the set of pins, and that means is rovided at each of these locations for detac ably holding a pin when it is once set thereon. This is shown in the form of a magnet 11, preferably a permanent magnet, one of course located under each of these locations. The bowling-pin 12 is provided with a soft iron base. 13 for completing the magnetic circuit. It will be seen therefore that when the pin is once set in proper position, the magnet will hold it there, but when a ball strikes with sufficient force to ti it away from the floor the magnet imme iately loses its gripping effect on the pin and the pin is free to move away unless it rocks back again into place. In this way I secure a natural action and do not materially modify the effect of a blow by the bowling-ball on the pin.

The bowling-pin is also modified at the top preferably. This "modification consists, in the form shown, of constructing the top of a fiber member 14 which is fixed to the body of the pin. It has a passage 15 down through the exact center and on opening 16 at the bottom. A supporting cord 17 extends down through this-passage and has a knot at the bottom in the opening 16 by which it is secured so that it. will be adapted to lift the bowling-pin. This cord 17 extends-up above over pulleys 18 and is provided with a counterweight 19. This counterweight is heavier than the bowling-pin, but not very much heavier. .For that reason when the pin is attracted by the ma et it will set in position and the weight will not affect it, but after it is moved far enough away from the magnet so thatthe weight,

has a chance to act it will pull it up to the dotted line position, thus preventlng the magnet from having any further influence upon it. The magnet can be in the bottom sides of thebowling alley preferably. These frames can conveniently be made of sheet metal and the bottom oneis shown as having the inner edges of its openings flared upwardly so as to provide smooth guiding surfaces for the pins without sharp edges which can engage them. The upper frame 21 is shown as provided with spaced plates 26 below it similarly provided with flanged openings 27 for receiving the tips of the bowling-pins. These plates are mounted to slide on depending pins 28, and springs 29 are provided for yieldingly holding these plates down against the heads of the pins. The frame 21, as stated, is perforated at 30 to permit the cords 17 to pass through. It will be understood that the openings 27 are axially in alinement with the openings 22 in the frame below.

The double frame-is adapted to be held in raised position by means of a cord 31 which may be manipulated in any desired way and from any desired distance. Ordinarily the cords for a plurality of alleys can be manipulated by a single operator at the other end of the room simply by passing them over pulleys in a manner not necessary to show herein.

In the use of the device the pins are first placed in the full line position in Fig. 1 where the magnets 11 hold them in position. When the balls strike the pins, if they are tilted enough to cause the magnets to lose their grip on them, the individual weight 19 for each pin that is so struck will raise it to the dotted line position. In view of all the conditions present, it will be seen that the action is almost exactly the same as is the casein an ordinary bowling alley because the action of the weight 19 is so slow that the pins can swing on the cords 17 in about the same way that they are moved on an ordinary alley to different parts of the same.

In other words, practically the only difference is that the pins do not ever lie on the alley. They are drawn up quickly enough, however, so that any swinging in the reverse direction will take place after they are well above the other pins.

When it is desired to set the pins back on the alley, the frame 20-21, having either the full set of pins or a smaller number thereon, is lowered by lowering the cord 31. This is guided accurately by the rods or posts 25 and the pins are forced to descend in exactly the right positions. If any pins are still standing they are not disturbed because the action of the frames is entirely independent of them, but the pins which have aminar I been detached from the magnets are necessarily lowered back into their original positions where the magnets act upon them and continue to hold them.

It will be seen also that the cords 17 are easily replaced by detaching the fiber member 14; and that not only is an accurate pin setting device provided which reduces the number of men and boys required about bowling alleys, but the time required in finding and resetting the pins is very materially reduced.

Although I have illustrated and described only a single embodiment of the invention, I am aware of the fact that many modifications can be made therein by any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore I do not wish to be limited to all the details of construction herein shown and described, but what ll do claim is 1. In a pin setting device, the combination of a vertical guide, a frame having means by which it is guided therealong, said frame having openings therethrough or receiving the pins, means for holding the pins up in said openings, and yielding means above the frame against which the tops of the pins engage, whereby when the frame is lowered the pins in said openings will be lowered with it.

2. In a pin setting device, the combination of a vertical guide, a frame having meansby which it is guided therealong, said frame having openings therethrough for pins, means for holding the pins yieldingly up in said openings, and yielding means above the frame for engaging the tips of the pins and centering them whereby when the frame is lowered the pins in said openings will be lowered with it.

3. In a pin setting device, the combination of a vertical guide, a framehaving means by which it is-guided therealong, said frame having openings therethrough for pins, a second frame above said frame hav ing openings therethrough registering axially with the openings in the first named frame, and yieldingly mounted plates suspended from said upper frame having guiding means for receiving the upper ends of the pins in alinement with the first-named openings.

4. In a pin setting device, the combination of a vertically movable frame having openings therethrough for receiving bowling pins, a second frame fixedly connected with the first named frame above it and having openings therethrough registering axially with the openings in the first named frame, and yieldingly mounted plates suspended from the upper frame having guiding means for receiving the upper ends of the pins in alinement with the first-named openings. v

5. As an article of manufacture, a bowling pin having a soft iron plate covering the bottom thereof, a removable tip on the top having a central passage therethrough for a lifting cord, and an opening at the bottom of the tip for receiving a knot or fas- 10 tening device at the end of the cord.

6. A bowling pin having a detachable fiber tip on the upper end provided with a pas sage at the bottom of said tip, and an axial central passage therefrom to .the top of the tip.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

JOHN F. OUMMING. 

